What is man believing/doing?:

a military leader over a hundred seeks healing for one of his servants

insisting on authority of Jesus operate similarly to his and can be issued via a third persons request

What is making man to believe/do as he is doing?:

he has either heard of or witnessed Jesus heal, perhaps specifically the palsy and is confident that gentiles have opportunity

empathy with the torment of his servant

perception of unworthiness of a home visit

Man's patience:

the man left without knowing how or when the promise would be fulfilled, only that it had been given

Jesus keeping of commandment:

He once stated to a gentile woman that He was sent at this time first for the house of Israel, healing for her would be like table scraps; he did grant her a healing as well. Something in His command from the Father does not prohibit Him from extending these mercies as they would one day further be. Israel however may have had the first right of refusal/rejection so as not to spred His earthly time too thin.

Jesus keeping of faith:

As Jesus is receiving these requests He is actively seeking out the evidences of faith in these seekers. His responses almost seem intentional to prompt a foreseen measurement, something deeper and more sincere; perhaps as much for our benefit as anyone there at the time.

One must decide for themselves whether it is the faith that swells up and heals them or the faith that lays them low and unworthy at the feet of the Righteous One who performs such things to the Father's glory. Jesus surely knows which it is.

Jesus' patience:

With the Jews of Israel as they more and more are begining to harden and their faith becomes more testy. I do not believe that the "so great faith not in all Israel" found in this Gentile is an over reach on the Lord's part; it was as serious and serious can be.

Jesus is again shown to relieve specific cases of palsy, but not eliminate palsy all together. Certainly that is the future objective. Being a consequence of the Adamic curse, that curse has not been lifted nor the pain and toil reduced. His patience as should be ours is in the course of all things leading to the blessed eternal objective.

Notes:

While the faith tends to be our focus, it was the authority and unworthiness that became this man's. His familiarity with this concept in his own daily dealings with others in his charge helped him to transcribe that into a spiritual dimension. Out of the hundreds or thousands of healings that day, the author chose to point this one out specifically as a lesson to us all.

Where did all these sick people come from? Intellectually we want to put sickness and calamity off at a safe distance. We don't mind theorizing and philosophizing singing psalms with grandiose intents. Here though, people are pouring out into the cities and into the streets almost in complete mayheim; no doubt an overwhelming site. These people were in close proximity all of this time though we chose not to see them. They are driven now by the lightening bolt of hope that they see in Jesus. How does one intellectualize this? How does one devise grand intent? The immediate religious consequence to the elite religous class must have been stiffling.

Key Messages:

What does this say about our present condition?

The empathy for another in torment can just as easily be justified as something they deserve or should have been cautious of or blame somehow put to their account. People are fired. People are denied coverage. People are seen as weak and infantile making more of their suffering than warranted. This becomes more and more true in legalistic environments.

The observance of torment can be repulsive and fearful even leading to the blaming of God.

There are certain similarities between how we operate daily and how the Godhead operates; if we only knew which. This man stumbled upon one.

There remains controversy as to what faith is capable of producing itself and what restrictions faith surrenders to God's authority through Christ.